Tao Porchon-Lynch in Dubai: Day 2

February 18, 2016–A perfect 72 degrees was the backdrop for our second full day in Dubai. With no scheduled events for the XYoga Dubai Festival, 97-year-old yoga master Tao Porchon-Lynch and I got to experience one of the most extraordinary sites in the Emirates, Burj Khalifa.

At over 2,716 feet and more than 160 stories, Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. Our ears were popping as we ascended because the elevator can travel 124 floors in sixty seconds! It is a stunning example of human ingenuity and creative vision, and the views–from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Desert–are breathtaking.

The access to the popular “at the top” experience at Burj Khalifa is from the lower ground floor of The Dubai Mall–the world’s largest shopping, leisure and entertainment destination. With over 1,200 shops, all your needs can be met… for a price! From Valentino to Oscar de la Renta, luxury brands abound. Still quite the fashionista, Tao commented on the designs as we passed through the Mall.

In the 1940s and ’50s, Tao was a model for top couture designers including Jean Dessès, Coco Chanel, Jeanne Lanvin, Jean Patou, Marcel Rochas and Elsa Schiaparelli.

Our hosts in Dubai didn’t skip a beat because next we went to the sailboat-shaped Burj Al Arab–the third tallest hotel in the world and repeatedly voted the most luxurious. With 7-star status, the hotel offers suite-only accommodations, a private reception on every floor and simply exquisite surroundings. Tao enjoyed a foot massage in the spa, while I received a tour of this magnificent place. I particularly liked the yoga room with floor-to-ceiling windows affording a view of the water while you inhale.

The big treat was High Tea–an elegant seven-course experience at Sahn Eddar (“Reception of the House” in Arabic) on the first floor of Burj Al Arab. From the date juice and Champagne to the dainty finger sandwiches and sumptuous desserts, I tried just about everything and saw Tao eat more than usual. Even the cappuccino had a touch of class with the hotel’s logo designed into the foam! We spent the afternoon with two of the hotel’s marketing executives, Nina Badri and Noor Al Fardan. They were absolutely wonderful and Tao was delighted by their positive energy.

Since Tao fell the day before flying to Dubai, her back was hurting so our hosts arranged for her to be seen at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex–an incredible private facility under the auspices of the Crown Prince of Dubai. They took such good care of Tao! Below are some pictures from Day 2 of the trip. Click on each image to make it larger. You can Like and Share each image, as well as spread the light by sharing this link and these hashtags: #ThisIs97 #TaoExp #TaoPorchonLynch.

EXPERIENCE MORE TAO IN DUBAI:

DAY 2

Contributed by Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy of www.IAmPowerLiving.com and www.PowerLivingMedia.com. President of Power Living Enterprises, Inc., Terri is a Harvard Business School-trained Strategist, Certified Meditation & Yoga Teacher, and Master Coach recognized as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum. She specializes in helping people de-stress and realize authentic success. After a corporate media & technology career, she founded the first yoga studio in Harlem and served six years on the Board of Yoga Alliance (including Chair and interim CEO). Called “smart with a heart,” she has been featured in media around the world including Oprah’s book, Live Your Best Life! Along with her mother, Columbia University-trained journalist Janie Sykes-Kennedy, Terri is a co-author of Tao’s autobiography, Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master. A sought-after speaker and avid photographer/videographer with a love for storytelling, she often travels with Tao moderating conversations on her life, assisting in yoga workshops and documenting their experiences.